Multiple drawer file cabinet



Feb. 25, 1969 P. A. SIMON ETAL 3, ,6

MULTIPLE DRA WER FILE CABINET v Filed March 15. 1968 Sheet of 2INVENTORS Y ,4. lMOM Psnsz 4504/42. .PALJETZ, BY BEA/d-IMM/ F/riaununweugw Feb. 25, 1969 P. A. SIMON ETAL 3,429,632

MULTIPLE DRAWER FILE CABINET Filed March 15, 1968 Sheet 3 of 2 FIE 5 IINVENTORS BYE United States Patent laims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afile cabinet of the lightweight, collapsible type constructed fromcardboard, fiberboard or like materials having an outer shell withinwhich a collapsible H-frame structure is inserted, the H-frame beingformed from a single blank of bendable material and including ahorizontally extending divider section and vertically dependingreinforcing panels which supportably engage the top and bottom walls ofthe outer shell. A rigid, reinforcing rim extends around the insideperiphery of the open front end of the outer shell and is held in placeagainst front edge portions of the aforesaid H-frame by inwardly turnedflaps.

Background of the invention Inexpensive storage files made from bendableblanks of scored cardboard or fiberboard are now in widespread use. Suchfiles are normally shipped knocked down or collapsed and are erected atthe point of use by the purchaser. Files of this type which employsliding drawers are commonly manufactured and sold as single-drawerunits. The file or storage units consist of a shell or casing in which asingle drawer is slidably inserted. If the user wishes to providehimself with a cabinet-like structure employing a plurality of filedrawers, it is necessary to stack a number of the single-drawer units ontop of each other and secure them together by attachment means normallysupplied by the manufacturer. To the best of our knowledge, there is notavailable on the market today a multiple-drawer file cabinet of thelightweight, inexpensive cardboard type wherein a plurality of slidingdrawers are supported within a single outer shell or casing.

Brief summary of the invention Having in mind the foregoing need for acollapsible and inexpensive, multiple-drawer file cabinet, we havedesigned and manufactured such a unit which is particularlycharacterized by an H-shaped drawer-supporting framework which isremovably inserted within a unitary casing or shell.

The H-frame support member is advantageously formed from a single cutand scored piece of bendable material similar to the material from whichthe outer, collapsible shell is constructed. When folded from theknocked-down condition in which it is shipped to the shape in which itis used, the H-frame member comprises a horizontal divider section andupwardly and downwardly depending reinforcing panels which are hingedlyconnected to the lateral edges of the horizontal divider section.

As a particularly advantageous feature of our improved file cabinet, theaforesaid reinforcing panels of the H- frame structure include upper andlower edge portions which abut against the top and bottom walls of theouter casing, thereby substantially adding to the strength and rigidityof the entire, multiple-drawer file unit and providing good support forthe horizontal divider section on which a drawer is slidably received.

As a further beneficial feature of our file cabinet, We provide a rigidreinforcing rim which is installed in fric- "ice tional engagement withthe inside periphery of the open front end of the outer shell. Thereinforcing rim rests against the front edges of the H-frame structure,and is held in place by inwardly turned flaps which are hingedlyconnected to the forward ends of the top, bottom and side walls of theouter casing.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will becomereadily apparent as the following description is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedto indicate like elements throughout the several views.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thefile cabinet of this invention showing two slide drawers in place;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the cabinet of FIGURE 1 with thedrawers removed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing a portion of theH-frame and reinforcing rim structure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded, perspective view showing the manner in whichthe reinforcing rim and H-frame structure are assembled within the outercasing of the file cabinet; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear, perspective view of the partially folded andassembled H-frame member.

A preferred embodiment of the file cabinet of this invention is shownfully assembled in FIGURE 1. The cabinet is comprised of an outer casingor shell 1 and an internal shelf or divider section 2 which cooperateswith casing 1 to form compartments within which drawers 4 and 6 areslidably received. Outer casing 1 is preferably formed from a singlesheet of lightweight, inexpensive material such as cardboard orfiberboard. Any of the lightweight, bendable materials, includingpaperboard, which are commonly employed for fabricating boxes and whichhave sufficient strength to hold their shape when bent, could be usedfor casing 1. The term boxboard as used hereinafter is intended toencompass all such materials. Casing 1 is preferably formed from acorrugated sheet of material which is cut and scored in such a mannerthat it can be folded from a collapsed or knocked-down condition inwhich it is shipped to the generally rectangular, cabinet configurationshown in FIGURE 1. The sheet material of which casing or shell 1 isconstructed is comprised of inner and outer paper layers 3 and 5 betweenwhich a corrugated layer 7 is sandwiched. Casing 1, as assembled at thepoint of use, includes top and bottom walls 8 and 10 hingedly connectedalong score lines to side walls 12 and 14. A solid back wall is formedby bending and interlocking a plurality of flaps which extend freelyfrom the rear edges of top, bottom and side walls 8, 10, 12, and 14. Therear wall is not shown since it is constructed and formed in a mannerwell known in the art and forms no part of this invention. Corrugations7 extend vertically within side walls 12 and 14 so as to lendcompression strength to casing 1 in a vertical direction.

The front edges of walls 8, 10, 12 and 14 define a front opening throughwhich drawers 4 and 6 may be slidably inserted into casing 1. Drawers 4and 6 are also preferably fabricated from boxboard material, and, likecasing 1, may be shipped knocked down and assembled at the point of use.Each drawer is provided with a pull handle 16 and an index frame 18 onits front face. Lower drawer 6, which is shown partially pulled out, hasmaterial 17 stored therein.

For the purpose of dividing casing 1 into separate, drawer compartmentswe have provided a unique H- frame structure generally indicated byreference numeral 20 in FIGURES 4 and 5. Frame structure 20 is comprisedof a horizontally extending shelf or divider section 2,

and upwardly and downwardly extending reinforcing panels 22, 24, 26 and28. It is desirable that the material from which frame structure 20 isfabricated be lightweight, bendable and of sufiicient strength toproperly support a drawer of the type described above with reference toslidable drawers 4 and 6. Although sheet metal could be employed forthis purpose, we prefer to use boxboard which can be cut and folded toprovide the desired H-frame configuration. FIGURE 5 ShOWs how a single,flat sheet of boxboard 21 could be scored and folded to provide framestructure 20. Boxboard sheet 21 would normally be shipped in a fiat,unfolded condition in a package with collapsed casing 1 and knocked-downdrawers 4 and 6. At the time of assembling the file cabinet for use,sheet 21 is very easily folded into the shape shown in FIGURE 4 by firstfolding it in half so as to bring central panels 32 and 34 intoface-to-face relation ship. Depending panels 22, 24, 26 and 28 are thenfolded upwardly and downwardly from panel sections 32 and 34 along scorelines 36, 37, 38 and 39 to the vertical position necessary for theinstallation of frame structure 20 within casing 1. A corrugatedstrengthening sheet 40 is then inserted between central panels 32 and34, the sandwich structure of panels 32 and 34 and sheet 40 comprisingtogether a horizontal divider section generally indicated by referencenumeral 2. After being folded in the aforesaid manner, H-frame structure20 is slidably inserted into casing 1 in the manner indicated in FIG-URE 4. Edge 30 of central shelf or divider section 2 will face the openend of casing 1 in the manner indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

As is best indicated in FIGURES 1 and 4, vertically extendingreinforcing panels 22, 24, 26 and 28 will be disposed adjacent to andparallel with side walls 12 and 14 of casing 1 when frame assembly 20 isinstalled in its position of use. Also, upper and lower edge portions23, 25, 27 and 29 of the reinforcing panels will engage the insidesurfaces of top and bottom walls 8 and 10. The unitary structure ofH-frame 20 and the supporting engagement of vertical panels 22, 24, 26and 28 with top and bottom walls 8 and of casing 1 greatly strengthensand rigidizes the entire cabinet assembly. Divider and drawer-supportingsection 2 is rendered particularly sturdy and solid by virtue of thecombination of corrugated sheet 40 with covering panels 32 and 34.Depending reinforcing panels 22, 24, 26 and 28 also serve to solidlybrace divider section 2 on which drawer 4 is slidably supported.

In order to further strengthen the cabinet structure, a rigid rim 42 ofgenerally rectangular or quadrilateral shape is installed in frictionalengagement with the inside periphery of the open end of casing 1 in themanner indicated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4. Rim 42 abuts against and ispositioned by the forward edges of panels 22, 24, 26 and 28 of framestructure 20. In order to insure that rim 42 does not slip rearwardlybetween the aforesaid reinforcing panels and side walls 12 and 14 ofcasing 1, corrugated sheet 40 of divider section 2 is sized so that itwill extend laterally outwardly beyond panels 22, 24, 26 and 28 intocontact with side walls 12 and 14. Outwardly extending portions 41 and43 of corrugated sheet 40 serve as shoulders against which side legs 44and 45 of rim 42 abut, as is best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In order to secure H-frame structure and rim 42 in place, a plurality offlaps are hingedly connected to the forward edges of top and bottomwalls 8 and 10 and side walls 12 and 14. Top and bottom flaps 46 and 47extend freely from top and bottom walls 8 and 10. Two, spaced-apart flapsections 48 and 49 are hingedly connected to the front edge of side wall12 and a similar set of fla s 50 and 51 are connected to side wall 14.Flaps 46 and 47 are notched at their corners as is indicated at 52 and53; and side flaps 48, 49, 50 and 51 are provided with tabs 54 and 55 attheir upper and lower extremities. Thus, when the flaps are foldedinwardly over reinforcing rim 42 to the fully assembled position ofFIGURE '1, tabs 54 will interlock with notches 52 so as to hold the sideand top flaps together in a manner well known in the art. Side flaps 48,49, 50 and 51 are also provided with depending tabs 56 on their inneredges. complementary locking notches 58 and 59 are provided at theopposite sides of central panels 32 and 34 of divider section 2, thesenotches being shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. When side flaps 48, 49 and 50and 51 are turned inwardly around side legs 44 and 45 of rim 42, tabs 56will swing across panels 32 and 34 and engage notches 58 and 59 therein.

The construction of unitary H-frame structure 20 from a single sheet 21of boxboard material has proved to be particularly desirable from thestandpoints of both strength and ease of assembly and packaging.Packaging is simplified because sheet 21 may be shipped flat in acompact package with collapsed casing 1 and drawers 4 and 6. These threeknock-down components may be shipped in a package small enough to meetparcel post regulations. It would be possible to form an H-framestructure by using two, separate U-shaped members and securing theirbases in face-to-face contact to provide a horizontal divider sectioncomparable to section 2 of frame 20; the side legs of the U-shapedmembers would extend vertically in opposite directions to serve as theupright reinforcing panels. However, such a frame assembly would nothave the additional strength derived from a unitary H-frame of the typeshown and described above.

A file cabinet adapted to house more than two drawers could beconstructed according to the basic structural concepts of our inventionby utilizing a plurality of H-frames similar to structure 20.

We contemplate that these and other modifications in the form, detail,arrangement of the various parts may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. A lightweight, collapsible file cabinet comprising:

a casing having top, bottom and side walls, said casing having a backclosure wall and an open front end;

a drawer-supporting, divider section supported within said casingbetween said top and bottom walls substantially parallel thereo, saiddivider section having upwardly and downwardly extending support panelsconnected to its side edges with at least said downwardly extendingsupport panels abutting against said bottom wall at their lower edges;

flaps hingedly secured to the front edges of said top, bottom and sidewalls, and folded inwardly thereover when said file cabinet isassembled, the inwardly folding flaps of each of said side wallscomprising two, spaced-apart flap sections which swing inwardly over thetop and bottom surfaces of said divider section;

means securing said flap sections to said divider section;

and two drawers removably positioned in said casing, one of said drawersbeing slidably supported on said divider section.

2. A file cabinet as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said drawer-supporting divider section and support panels are formedfrom a single piece of light-weight, bendable material folded over onitself so as to provide two face-to-face central panels which comprisesaid divider section, said support panels being hingedly connected tothe side edges of said central panels along score lines;

and further including a corrugated strengthening sheet substantiallycoextensive with said central panels and sandwiched therebetween.

3. A file cabinet as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said means securing said flap sections to said divider section compriseslock tabs on each of said flap sections at the ends thereof adjacentsaid divider section; and

complementary notches in said divider section within which said tabs arereceived in locking engagement when said flap sections are swunginwardly.

4. A file cabinet as defined in claim 1, and further including:

a rigid, four-sided rim extending around the inside peripheral edges ofsaid open front end of said casing, said rim having side legs which arein abutting engagement with the front edges of said support panels, andsaid flaps being folded inwardly over said rim on all four sidesthereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Scheinman 312-259 X Rosen 229Mitten 321 9 X Lane 229-15 Kozlowski et a1. 229-42 Gronquist 312-25 9Fiterman et a1 312-259 Beeby 22'9-15 X JAMES T. MCCALL, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

